Past, Present, Feature

Blog

  • Nepali Congress leader Nabindra Raj Joshi no more !

    Nepali Congress leader Nabindra Raj Joshi no more !

    Kathmandu: A central leader of the main opposition party, Nepali Congress, Nabindra Raj Joshi, died on Friday night. He was 57.

    After surviving a brain haemorrhage on February 26, Joshi was undergoing treatment at Norvic Hospital of Kathmandu. For the past several days, he was on a ventilator, unconscious.

    During treatment, he breathed his last at 8:24 last night, informs the hospital in a press statement, adding his heart had stopped functioning since Friday morning.

    Joshi was a two-time lawmaker representing Kathmandu’s constituency number 8 to the House of Representatives. He was the Minister for Industry during the premiership of Pushpa Kamal Dahal (2016-2017).

    As a minister, Joshi is credited for reviving the Nepal Aushadhi Limited, a government-run drug manufacturer of the country.

  • PM Oli warns HoR dissolution could repeat

    PM Oli warns HoR dissolution could repeat

    KATHMANDU: Prime Minister KP Oli, justifying his move of dissolving the House of Representatives (HoR), warned the HoR could be dissolved again if a precarious situation arrives where the government and Parliament do not function effectively.

    Addressing an all-party meeting at Shital Niwas Tuesday, PM Oli remarked going for fresh elections was the obvious course of action if the political stalemate continued.

    “Article 76 and 85 have provisions for Parliament dissolution. If the government and Parliament do not run smoothly, the House could be dismissed again. One should not raise their eyebrows if so happens,” the PM told the gathering of party leaders Tuesday.

    The PM also expressed dissatisfaction over the allegation of regression against his House dissolution move.

    Likewise, parliamentary party leaders raised questions over the role of the president in the HoR dissolution at the meeting. Replying to such references, President Bhandari stated that she had truthfully abided by the constitution.

    President Bhandari said political cooperation and consensus should be continued for effective implementation of the statute and for strengthening democracy in the country. She also stressed dialogue, cooperation and unity were unique features of Nepali politics.

    The meeting concluded with the president apprising the leaders about her two-day official visit to Bangladesh on March 22.

    The meeting, which was supposed to narrow down the differences among the political parties, failed to yield a positive outcome.

  • Army Day observed with grand military display

    Army Day observed with grand military display

    KATHMANDU: Nepali Army (NA) marked the Maha Shivaratri and Army Day amid a spectacular ceremony at the Army Pavilion, Tundikhel on Thursday.

    President and the Supreme Commander of Nepali Army, Bidya Devi Bhandari attended the ceremony and observed all activities with keen interest.

    President Bhandari also paid homage to the martyrs at the Bir Smarak. On the occasion, a contingent of NA offered the “Guard of Honor” to the President.

    Present on the occasion were Vice President Nanda Bahadur Pun, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, Chief Justice Cholendra Shumsher JBR, Speaker of House of Representatives Agni Prasad Sapkota, ministers, diplomats and high-ranking government officials.

    The signifying banner of Army Day 2077 and showering of flowers were displayed by the helicopters of NA.

    During the event, the march-past was followed by the display of Artillery equipment, and the cultural performances depicting all seven provinces were demonstrated.

    On the occasion, President Bhandari launched different books entitled ‘History of Unification of Nepal (1801 BS-1872 BS)’, ‘Introduction to Historic Forts, Bations and Battle Grounds of Nepal’ and ‘Sipahi- the Army’s annual Special Issue 2077’.

    She also handed awards to the winners in the recently held free-fall jump competition. On the occasion, various dances, including the Shiva Tandava dance, were performed by the army artistes.

    Nepali Army has participated in the UN peacekeeping since 1958. So far, Nepal has contributed more than 135,000 peacekeepers in various missions.

    Meanwhile, Ratna Krishna Shrestha, a photo journalist affiliated with Rastriya Samachar Samiti, has been honored with the ‘Chief of Army Staff Commendation Standard’. Other 347 including army soldiers have received the honor. Chief of Army Staff Purna Chandra Thapa handed the honor to Shrestha and others. Source: khabarhub

  • Former Miss Nepal Khatiwada joins Harvard University

    Former Miss Nepal Khatiwada joins Harvard University

    KATHMANDU: Former Miss Nepal Shrinkhala Khatiwada has got admission at Harvard University Graduate School of Design, the world’s renowned university based in America.

    Bachelor in Architecture, Khatiwada will pursue her master’s degree in Urban Planning at the university. After being accepted by the university, she has shared her happiness with her fans on social networking site.

    Sharing her happiness Khatiwada has said that she has been the happiest to get admission at Harvard University.

    Khatiwada had won the title of Miss Nepal in 2018. She had also taken part in Miss World contest after winning the coveted Miss Nepal title.

  • NEB to conduct SEE from May 27

    NEB to conduct SEE from May 27

    KATHMANDU: The National Examination Board (NEB) has decided to hold the Secondary Education Examination (SEE) of the year 2077 BS from May 27.

    A meeting of the NEB held recently decided to conduct the examinations from May 27 until June 7.

    According to Durga Prasad Aryal, the member secretary of the NEB, the date of the SEE has been fixed in line with the decision of the cabinet meeting.

    A cabinet meeting held on February 9 had directed the NEB to conduct SEE in collaboration with provincial governments.

    The results of the SEE last year had been issued based on the internal evaluations of the respective schools.

  • COVID-19: Nepal records 78 fresh cases, tally hits 2,74,143

    COVID-19: Nepal records 78 fresh cases, tally hits 2,74,143

    Nepal recorded a total of 78 new cases of coronavirus infection in the past 24 hours. According to the Ministry of Health and Population, the coronavirus tally reached 2,74,143 in the country as of Sunday afternoon.

    Likewise, the Ministry shared that now the country has 962 reported active cases of the virus. In the past 24 hours, altogether 82 have recovered from the coronavirus infection in the country.

    So far, 2,70,407 people have recovered from the coronavirus infection in the country. Similarly, the ministry shared that one new fatality was reported in the last 24 hours, taking the death toll to 2,774.

  • One held for creating fake Cyber Bureau Facebook page

    One held for creating fake Cyber Bureau Facebook page

    KATHMANDU: Police have arrested Prajwal Pokharel, 18, from Rupandehi on the charge of creating a fake Facebook page of the Cyber Bureau.

    According to SSP Navinda Aryal, he was arrested after the District Court, Kathmandu granted him permission to investigate under the Electronic Transactions Act, 2063 BS.

    According to Aryal, Pokhrel was trying to take financial advantage by creating a fake police page.

  • Five days custody granted for further investigation in Bhagarathi murder case

    Five days custody granted for further investigation in Bhagarathi murder case

    The District Court Baitadi has granted five more days custody time to investigate against the juvenile nabbed in connection with Bhagarathi murder allegation case.

    According to SSP Uttamd Raj Subedi, the Chief of Sudurpaschim Province, a five-day period has been taken from the district court in Bhagarathi’s  rape and murder case.

    The police was arrested on Tuesday evening and was made public on Wednesday afternoon.

    Accused Dinesh, who was arrested on the charge of murder after Bhatt’s rape, was taken to court for an extension of detention time on Wednesday.

    Meanwhile, a police investigation has revealed that Bhagarathi Bhatta of Baitadi was murdered in a pre-planned manner over a feud between two neighboring families.

    The investigation carried out by the law enforcement agency found out that Dinesh Bhatta arrested on the charge of raping and killing 17-year-old Bhagarathi of Dogadakedar Rural Municipality-7 of Baitadi had been waiting on the road for an hour and a half before the incident.

    Bhagarathi used to study in class 12 and Dinesh in Grade 11 and are siblings by relationships.

    A preliminary investigation by the police has shown that Dinesh had skipped two classes on February 3 and had waited on the road to kill her.

    Initially, Dinesh said that he went home only after classes were over but later admitted that he left early, according to police officials.

    Bhatta, a 17-year-old student of Dogadakedar-7, Chadepani had gone missing while returning from school to her home on February 3.

    She was found murdered after the rape and her dead body was recovered on February 4. The incident had taken place between 2:40 pm and 2:47 pm.

    However, sources said that Dinesh, who confessed to the murder, had given a statement that he was not involved in the rape.

    Citing Dinesh’s statement after the arrest, a police source said, “I was already sitting on the road. Bhagarathi was heading to her destination eating noodles. At first, I threw her book and then pushed her from behind. She fell and fainted, and I strangled her. ”

    A police source said that Dinesh admitted that he killed Bhagarathi to take revenge for his aunt.

    “There is an old feud between the two neighboring families. The accused has given a statement that he raped Bhatta in a rivalry,” said an official involved in the investigation.

    Sources said that he had given a statement to the police even though he had tried to kill her before.

    A police source said that Dinesh told police that he had attempted to rape after Bhagarathi fell unconscious.

    According to Dinesh, he threw away the battery of Bhagarathi’s mobile phone after the murder. After that, he was going to school regularly.

    He had also attended a protest rally demanding to take action against Bhagarathi’s murderer(s). Source: Khabarhub

     

  • Context- 60 years of RSS: Three former communications ministers stress on enhancing country’s only news agency

    Context- 60 years of RSS: Three former communications ministers stress on enhancing country’s only news agency

    Former information and communications ministers have stressed on the need of the Rastriya Samachar Samiti (RSS), the only official news agency of the country, to play additional significant role in the present context.

    The former ministers shared their views in the context of the RSS’ entering the diamond jubilee year from this February 19.

    Describing RSS as the common property of all Nepalis, they have suggested augmenting its important role remaining autonomous and neutral and disseminating balanced and objective news. The former information and communications ministers also suggested the RSS to provide true and timely news to its subscribers and the masses by using the new technology so as to keep intact its credibility that RSS has been collecting and disseminating true and authentic news based on facts since its establishment till date.

    Pradip Kumar Nepal, who was the Minister for Information and Communications in the government led by then Prime Minister Man Mohan Adhikari from 30 November 1994 to 12 September 1995, opined that the RSS’ responsibility has increased more at present in the changed context.

    “I feel that RSS has not been able to internalize its increased role. The RSS management should give appropriate environment to and make its bureaus and reporters technology-friendly. It should disseminate through its subscribers balanced and factual news that create positive feelings. The institution should carry out works towards becoming self-reliant,” he said.

    RSS was established on February 18, 1962 with the merger of two news agencies in existence at that time and run from the private sector – Nepal Sambad Samiti and Sagarmatha Sambad Samiti. It has been disseminating news collected from its provincial offices in all the seven provinces, its district offices and the stringers in all the districts to the masses through its subscribers.

    RSS has been providing investigative news, news features, audio clips and photos to the print, radio, television and online media.

    The name, RSS, itself speaks of its responsibility
    Similarly, former Communications Minister Mohan Bahadur Basnet has expressed the view that it would be easier to all to make their own view if RSS could disseminate balanced and factual news at a time when political instability has increased due to dissolution of House of Representatives as there is a thinking among the general people that the news and information disseminated by RSS is authentic, balanced and related to government’s statement.

    Suggesting the RSS to disseminate news so that all Nepalis could feel a sense of ownership, he said RSS should not only give the news of government and opposition parties but also the news of public interest in order to safeguard its prestigious position from its establishment in the world of mass media, as news as RSS is the common property of all. Former Minister Basnet said, “In recent period, it is seen that attempts have been made to control things except disseminating only good works of the government. If it is true, it should be stopped.”

    He said that no action was taken against anyone even writing the news against the government at a time when he was the communications minister.

    He added, “The very name Rastriya Samachar Samiti (RSS) is adequate for highlighting its importance. It has the body, structure and capacity to collect news and information from the nook and corners and the length and breadth of the country. There is an impression among the people that RSS can disseminate all types of news whether it is national or international in systematic and reliable way. People have thought that how the news and information given by government could be wrong, but the trust towards this organisation will be decreased if there is intervention of the government.”

    Former Minister Basnet opined that RSS could not face the 21st century’s demand and challenges along with internet and high technology if it does not pay attention on modern technology by updating, modernizing and revising the news collection, processing and dissemination processes.

    Records show that RSS correspondents have abundantly produced human-interest stories and write-ups from nook and corners.

    The news disseminated by the RSS is considered to be impartial, fact-based, and credible, and it has been a good source of news not only for print media, radio and television but also for online news portals.

    The major task of the news agency is to gather information and provide it to other media houses.

    RSS’ relevancy has further increased
    Former Minister for Information and Communications Jay Prakash Gupta sees the relevancy of RSS has increased as a time-tested and professional media in the present context. Its relevancy has further increased.

    The RSS has been disseminating free, fair, impartial and objective news. ”But sometimes it may face pressure from the government and at such moments it should realise the public interest and sentiments, and continue to deliver the accurate news in a balanced and objective way.”

    The former Minister has sympathy for the RSS for its compulsion to give its physical infrastructure built for own use on rent to cope up with financial constraint.

    ”I did my best (in my capacity as the minister) in the past for the holistic development of the RSS and was always aware that it should not be obstructed to function as a professional and independent entity,” he said, stressing that the State should invest for equipping it with technology.

    People have much hope and trust on RSS and it is for imparting information to the masses, and strengthening and further developing it should be the special priority of the state.

  • Election will not take place: Prachanda

    Election will not take place: Prachanda

    CHITWAN: Chairman of the Nepal Communist Party (NCP) Prachanda-Nepal faction, Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has stated that the election will not take place as the move to dissolve the House of Representatives (HoR) was not taken with the intention of holding the poll.

    “Let me make it clear that the election will not be held at any cost,” Prachanda told reporters in Chitwan on Monday adding “The government has no intention to hold the same.,”

    Stating that the dissolution of the House was against the interest of the nation, people, democracy and the constitution, he termed PM Oli’s move as “regressive”.

    Saying that the achievements made through a long struggle and sacrifice were currently imperiled, the former Prime Minister said they were in the movement to protect the constitution and democracy.

    Chair Dahal is scheduled to address a mass meeting to be held in Chitwan on February 24.